(Last Updated on December 21, 2020 by GERALD NCUBE)
HARARE – The Ministry of Health and Child Care has warned citizens against getting Covid-19 tests from uncertified laboratories across the country after it emerged that some of these were already carrying out tests without approval from the relevant authorities.
“It has come to the attention of the Ministry of Health and Child Care that Laboratories are carrying out Covid-19 testing without the prior requirement of assessment and certification.
“Ministry of Health and Child Care wishes to advise the public that only Laboratories that have been assessed and certified by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Medical Laboratory and Clinical Scientists Council of Zimbabwe and the WHO are the only labs approved to carry out COVID-19 testing and publish results,” said the Ministry in a statement.
The statement further advised all laboratories that want to offer Covid-19 testing services to apply while also cautioning the public that any results test from uncertified labs will be considered invalid.
“Any Lab that wishes to carry out Covid-19 testing should apply to the Medical Laboratory and Clinical Scientist Council of Zimbabwe.
“All results from any unauthorized lab shall be regarded as invalid and of no use for the purposes for which they were intended to serve. Any health institution concerned which contravenes Part XVII, section 99(1) of the Health Professions Act [Chapter 27:19] shall be dealt with in terms of section 99(2) of the same Act.
There has been an increase in the number of people who have been arrested for either using or issuing fake Covid-19 certificates.
Governments across the region made it mandatory for all travellers seeking to cross borders to have valid Covid-19 results certificates.
However, with each test costing US$60, a black market industry has mushroomed in the country.